Automatic latch mechanism for gates



Sept. 13,1927. 1,642,534

E. A. BIGLER AUTOMATIC LATCH MECHANISM FOB GATES Filed Oct. 6, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Wi'fnes se s, f y g yf I 152/9 M Edward /I B/y/er Spt. 13,1927. 1,642,534

E. A. BIGLER AUTOMATIC LATCH MECHANISM FOR GATES Filed Oct. 6, 1924 ZSIzuts-Sh'eat 2 gjzmww by ,W/fy, amt-1% Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

{EDW R ApiareLnn, or AU URN; ILLINOIS.

*Au'roMAriro LA-roH Mno rANrsM FOR" earns, J

AppHcationnkd October 6, 1924. Serial "N0; 741,999.

i lrcinvention relates to latchessuch as are used in conjunction with automatic farm' gates and similar structures. I r The purposes of the lnventlonare to proi vide latch mechanism either-double or, single,

o'fsimple and sturdy construction, able to Withstand severe use and; protected against such-accumulation of snow and 166113 might interfere with the operation. of the niecha nism; to 4 provide: latch mechanism which will not be rendered inefi'ectiveby'thesaggingrof the gates/with which it is used;

to provide latch'lllGCllZLIllSll'l WlllCll maybe constructed at relatively small 'costgand ap videimp pliedongates already in usetand'to prohereinafter sappea-r." v

VVith these ends in'view'the invention consists in the new and useful' features of construction and, combinations of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and now to be described and finally recited in the claims, V

Figure '1 is a front; elevation of a double latch mechanism of preferred construction embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a righthandside elevation of the same mechanism; Fig. 3. is a :horizontal, transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4

is an enlarged perspective viewof the righthand angular block as seen; from below,

looking upward; showing twoaprons in tegral with the block and showing the spiral runway and the adjacent lug integral with the base plate; Fig. 5 is, a diagrammatic perspective viewof a double latch mechanism of modified construction, including weighted annular clined axes; and .7 v

Fig.6 is adiagrammatic perspective view,

. on a reduced scale, showing latch-mechanism of modified construction embodying a single annular blockoperative in one direction by a .latch. blade carried by the. gate I frame upon clo'sing'thegate, and operative by hand i in the samedirectionjto permit opening of V the gate; 7 V

The same referencenumerals designate the sameparts-in all thB VIQWS 1 signedior use in conjunction with what are struction being such that when' 'one side oi."

the axis of the gate is shifted in one direction oved 1 structural details; as I will;

blocks vos'cillative- 'on inv l parallel to each other. Aligned bosses 13 ,T e present invention is primarily .de--

thegate frame will rise, carrying the latch blade above the :latch blocks and willswing outwardly'to'open position and when the same end of the axis of the gate is shifted in the opposite-I direction the gate framewill swing inwardly to closed position. The latch 1 bladeisusu ally connected with and extends" outwardly, lengthwise of the gateframe to engage and cooperate with the latch .meche anism now to beidescribed.

, {Thee-latch'fblade which is not port of the present invention-may be of any usual con- 5 struction; it is therefore unnecessary to show anddescribethe latch blade in detail.

. The preferredl atch mechanism shown in the drawings andfnow to be described is two-way mechanism, operative from either direction, going or coming, but it is obvious that the right-handoscillative angular block may beutilized to co-operate with a gate frame whichswings to the left to close the gate and swings to the right to ope'n the gate, and similarly the lefthandoscillative jangular block maybe utilized to co-operate with agate frame which swings to the" right :to closethe gate; and'swings "to the left; to open the gate; in either case the oscillative block will be operated by hand to V I on the backofthe block 10 have lengthwise, boresl to receive a rod 17 whichiextends through theflangel, the bosses 13 and thelug 9 to'connect'the block 10 with the base-Q plate so that the block will oscillate freely and slide on the rod. I

Similarly, the block 12, of angular cross section, has on. its back aligned bosses 15' to receive'a' rod 19 extending through the,

flange 8, the bosses 15' and the lug'20 to conv nect the block with the boss so that the block. will oscillate and slide on the rod.

QThe block'lO has a downwardly extending V integral front-member 21 and a downwardly. extending integral side member 30., F or convenience in description I call the part-2 1" Ill] (Figs. 3 and 4-) the trout apron and the pa rt 39 the side apron. The aprons 21 and Alt) protect the run-way Q? from dirt, snow and ice.

The block 155 has similar downwardly extending aprons 22 and which protect the run-way Ell; spiral inclined runways 23 and El are prctcrably integral with the base plate adjacent to the lower ends of the re siiectirc blocks ll) and 12. \olces and 26 near the lower ends of the respective blocks .ltl and l) are preferably integral with the blocks and carry wheels 2? and .28 which roll on the respective run-ways.

(letter pins 29 extend through the lower terminals oi? the rods 17 and 19 and prevent aoeit'lental displacement of the rods.

In use the blool: will be operated by the usual latch-blade or pin on the gate frame, moving in the direction indicated by the arrow X to admiit tihe latch-blade into the space between the latclrblocks, and the block 12 will be operated by the latch-libido on the galeframe, moving in the direction indicated by the arrow Y, to permit the latclrblade to take position between the blocks.

A quarter-rotation ot the block 10 in the direction X causes the wheel 27 to run upward on the runway 23 (Fig. l) to raise the block and when the latch-blade passes the outwardly extending member of the block. the blocl; will. gravitate downwardly and will cause the wheel 27 to run downward on the runway to restore the block to its original positirm so that one lengthwise member of the block engaging on the face of the plate T, will prevent reverse rotation oil the blocle and the block will prevent reverse nuivcmont of the latch-blade; and similarly aquartcr-rotation oil the block 12 in the direction Y causes the wheel 28 to run upwards on the runway Qt to raise the block and when the latch-blade passes the outwardly extending member of the block, the block will gravitate down ardly to cause the wheel to run downwardly on the runway to automatically return the block to its or ginal position.

From the iloregoing it is obvious that the latch-blade carried by the gate frame swinging in either direction may effect a quarter rotation of the proper block to cause the blade to enter the space between the blocks. 10 and .12, but the blocks gravitating dowir ward as described will cause the wheels 27 and 28 to run downward on the runways 23 and Ql to cllect reverse rotation of the blocks back to their original position and the bloclrs will prevent latcral withdrawal ol the blade in either direction.

The latch-blade can however, be withdrawn by litting the blade out of the space between the latch-blocks; or by sliding the blade horizontally out ard.

bl ck in the direction indicated by the arrow Z to permit the blade to pass the block 34-, whereupon the block -lal will gravitate and rotate back to its original position, as has already been set forth in the description of the operation of the block 10 To release the latclnbladc the blo k 4- will be rotated by hand in the direction indicated by the arrow Z to permit the outwardly moving latch-blade to pass the block 3st. i

The two-way latch ll'iOClltllllSIIl of modified coinztruction shown in Fig. 5 comprises among other things abase plate 40 secured on the post l2 by bolts ll. chamtercd parts a3. The base plate has inclined butter members ill conformed to the parts ilingnlar blocks 4-5 and 16 preferably of cast iroin have integral weights 51 and 52, which cause the hloclcs to gravitate in a manner to be described later. The blocks and it? are supported on the respective bosses 49 and 50 which are inteiirral with the base plate. lnelincd rods 13? and i8 extend through the forwardly extending flange 53 of: the base plate and lengthwise through the respective blocks l5 and 46 and Hat in the respective bosses 41-9 and 50.

The operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is as follows: It the gate frame swings in the direction llltllCtllIGtl by the arrow V, to close the ga te the latch bl ado carried by the grate frame will strike the member 54 and thereby rot ate the block 45 sullicient-lyto permit the blade to pass the block and thereupon the weight 51 acting by gravity. will rotate the block back to its original position in contact with the butter stilwhich will stop the block. If the gate frame moves in the i'lircction indicated by the arrow \V. to close the gate, the latch blade carricdby the gate :trame will strike the member 55 to rotate the blocl: it) to admit the latch blade to the space between the blocks and therraipon the weight will act by gravity to rotate the block back to its original position against the. bullcr 4.4-. In either case the proper block will be operated by hand to permit the with drawal of the latch blade from the space between the angular blocks 45 and 46.

Having fully (lGSClllDGtl my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r l. Latch mechanism comprising a station- The post has having integraldownwardly extending cur tain members; and l atchblock operatingmeans protected from snow and ice by the curtain members of said latch-blocks.

2. Latch mechanism comprising a stationary base plate having an outwardly extending flange having two holes spaced suitably apart from each other to receive hmge-bolts in the respective holes, also having two inclined runways spaced apart from each other according, to the spacing of the holes in said flange, and two outwardly pro ect1ng lugs having holes in line with the respective holes in the flange of'the base plate; and a pair of sturdy latch-blocks of approximately rectangular cross section, each adapted to be operated in one direction by a latch blade carried'by an inwardly swinging gate and each having at the juncture of its sides hinge-members having aligned holes adapted to "receive a hinge-bolt; each of said blocks having also integral downwardly extending curtain-members; rotative wheels on said respective latch blocks between said apron,

members and adapted to travel on'said re spective runways, protected from snow and ice by said curtain-members; .and hingeadmit the blade into the space between the latch-blocks, and to permit the latch blocks to gravitate downwardly and stop against the base plate to either direction.

3. Latch mechanism comprising a stationary, base plate having upper and lower outwardly extending members each having a hole in line with a corresponding hole in the other; a hinge-bolt extending through the holes in said outwardly extending members; and a latch-block of angular cross-section slidable on said hinge-bolt and having flat sidesat an approximate right angle relative to each other; said angular latch block being free to oscillate on said bolt within an are limited by the striking of the respective flat prevent opening the gate in sides'of said latch-block against the outer face of said base plate.

4;. Latch mechanism comprising an upi right base plate having upper and lower outwardly extending members; a hinge-bolt extending through said outwardly extending members; a latch block of angular cross section oscillative and slidable on said hingebolt and having flat sides at anapproximate right angle relative to each other and having also integral curtain members, one a continuationdownwardly of one flat side of the latch block and the other a diagonal downwardly extending member integral with the same latch block; and block op erating means protected from ice and snow by said curtain members and adapted to slide said latch block upwardly and permit it to gravitatedownwardly on said bolt during the oscillations of the locking block.

5. A latch unit comprising a stationary baseplate having an outwardly extending flange with a hole to receive a hinge bolt, having also an'inclined runway and an outwardly extending lug having a hole in line with said hole in said flange; and a sturdy latch block of approximately angular cross section having at the juncture of. its side members lugs which have aligned holes adapted to receive a hingebolt, said block having also integral downwardly extending curtain members; a 'rotative wheel carried by said latch block between said curtain members and adapted to travel on said inclined runway, protected from snow and ice by said curtain members; and a hinge bolt extendmg through the flange and the lug on said base plate and through the hinge members of said latch block; said latch block slidable upwardly on said hinge bolt during upward travel of said wheel on said runway and gravltatlng downwardly and stopping against said base plate.

6. Latch mechanism comprising a stationary base plate, an elongated latch block having side members in angular relation to each other, a bolt connecting'said latch block pivotally and slidablys relative to said base; said block free to oscillate right and left and free to slide on said hinge bolt and stop against said base-plate. p

In witness whereof. I have hereunto signed my name at Springfield, Illinois, this 13th day-of June, 1924.

EDWVARD A. BIGLER.

W1 V. 1.111. 147,1, 7. run-1 Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,642,534. Granted September 18, 1927, to EDWARD A. BIGLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 43, for the Word annular read angular; same page, line 66, for port read part; and that the said-Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

